The fundamental aim of REACH is to improve protection of human health and the environment. The Regulation applies to all stages of the EU supply chain, from substance manufacture, chemical use, the production and supply of articles, and import from non-EU suppliers. As such, the REACH regulation affects every stage of the supply chain, all the way down to the retail sector.

Alongside REACH, the CLP Regulation defines hazardous substances and mixtures and lays down classification, packaging and labelling obligations for the EU supply chain. For industrial and professional users, complementing the label is the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), which is regulated by REACH. SDSs must be provided for hazardous substances and mixtures, and for mixtures containing certain substances above relevant thresholds or with EU-wide Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values (IOELVs or ILVs). However, they are not required for substances and mixtures destined for the consumer unless a distributor (e.g. a retailer) or a downstream user (e.g. a tradesperson buying from a retailer) requests one.

The REACHReady helpdesk receives a number of regulatory queries regarding scented consumer products such as candles and reed diffusers. Therefore, we have produced this short guide to help our subscribers understand their obligations under REACH and CLP.

Supporting documents

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